North Webster Head Coach Christopher Wilson had a simple explanation for his team’s season-opening 35-7 road loss to Haynesville last Friday.
“We just didn’t play well,” he said Monday. “We just didn’t respond to the intensity that Haynesville brought. It definitely wasn’t indicative of how we practiced. We didn’t respond well and I was disappointed.”
Haynesville is in Class 1A, but the Tors are hardly a typical 1A school. They went 12-2 last year and reached the non-select Division IV championship game. Haynesville has won 17 state championships.
Wilson could have pointed out that his team played without two of its top running backs. Braedon Robertson suffered a dislocated knee in the jamboree, and Colby Dinkins suffered a concussion.
But he didn’t make any excuses.
Wilson said he got a good report from the doctor regarding Robertson, a first-team All-District 1-3A selection last season. But it’s still a wait-and-see situation on when he’ll be able to return.
The good news is that Dinkins was cleared to play over the weekend.
Senior slotback J’Kobe Lawson rushed for 96 yards on 21 carries against Haynesville.
The Knights got down early. They trailed 14-0 after a quarter and 21-0 at the half. The Tors added two more touchdowns in the third quarter. They rolled up 294 yards rushing, per North Webster stats.
North Webster got on the board in the fourth quarter on a 23-yard pass from Christian Whitlock to Martavion White.
Wilson and the Knights have turned their attention to North Caddo, Friday’s opponent. North Webster will be on the road again.
North Caddo is coming off a 2-8 season, but the Titans used a big second half to defeat Bossier 37-16 in their opener.
“One of my coaches counted and I think they dress 39,” Wilson said. “We’re dressing 70. They’ve got a great amount of athletes. We’ve just got to go match their intensity in the interior. The offensive and defensive line is going to be the reason for success for us this week. And they just have to meet the challenge.”